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The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.
This report is published by 12 daily newspapers in Southern California each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the Outdoor News Service web site (Outdoor News Service). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning. The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.
The Outdoor News Service is also on Facebook with updated reports and photos posted throughout the week. The new Twitter account name is MatthewsOutdoor. For our latest fishing information, use these sites.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG’s Internet web page is located at the following address: California Department of Fish and Game.
MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. While this is going out on a limb because the weather has been dismal on the ocean this past week and bite slowed, the tuna bites out of San Diego and the Central Coast are still probably the best bet for the weekend. The one- and two-day boats out of San Diego had been seeing excellent mixed albacore, bluefin, and yellowfin action with a lot of quality fish to 40 pounds. That bite should surge back on as the weather improves offshore. The one-day albacore bite out of Avila and Morro Bay is pretty much wide open and likely to stay that way. For an update or to check on boat availability and costs in San Diego, call Fisherman’s Landing at 619-221-8500, H&M Landing at 619-222-1144, Seaforth Landing at 619-224-3383 or Point Loma Sportfishing at 619-223-1627. For the Central Coast action, call Virg’s Sportfishing in Morro Bay at 805-772-1222 or Patriot Sportfishing in Avila Beach at 805-595-7200.
2. Again, Diamond Valley Lake’s topwater striped bass action has earned a top pick. The bite has continued excellent again this past week. Lots of fish up into the 20-pound class have been landed on surface baits, cranks, spoons, trolled lures, or swim baits hurled into boiling fish, and scads of smaller fish are whacking the same baits. This bite is getting a lot of attention and even during the week rental boats are going fast. For an update on the action, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410.
3. The transition of the seasons is the best time of year to fish the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Leaves are turning color in the high elevations and you can get away from the heat forecast for this weekend in Southern California. The browns and brookies are moving into a spawning mode. Top spot in the Sierra? With just about everyplace good, this is a tough pick, but Kirman Lake is cranking out a few real pig brook trout topping three pounds and some cutthroats even bigger. Top source for an update is Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport at 760-932-7707.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Top trout bets in Sierra continue to include Bridgeport Reservoir, Lake Crowley, Silver Lake, South Lake, Lake Sabrina, and most of the Bishop Creek and Rock Creek drainage streams, Virgina Lakes, and West Walker River. No plants in Sierra this week, however. For fly guys, the East Walker River improved this week, but Bridgeport Reservoir and Crowley remain hot spots. At Crowley, the big browns on working perch minnows in the backs of bays with water inflows. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters. Top bet is Big Bear Lake, but Green Valley Lake, Lake Hemet, and Lake Gregory are all fair at best.
BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action is fair to good just about everyone this past week with very good surface action a lot of places. Diamond Valley Lake has been wide open on topwater. Other good bets include Casitas, Castaic, Skinner, Sutherland, Otay, Irvine, Perris, Silverwood, Pyramid and Puddingstone. The smallmouth action on the Colorado River has been very good in the lower river stretches and Topoc Gorge, but slowish in Lake Havasu with only a few fish showing on the points. Further up on the Central Coast, Santa Margarita continues to improve, and Lopez is fair to good, too. The spotted bass are pretty fair in Nacimiento.
STRIPED BASS: Top bets this week are Diamond Valley Lake and Willow Beach on the Colorado River for quality fish, but there are good bites in most of the region’s striper waters. Silverwood, Pyramid, Castaic, and Skinner all decent bets. San Antonio Lake is still good for six to 10-pound fish with a few into the mid-20s each week, but there were darn few reports from there this week. The California Aqueduct near Taft remains pretty good, too, with a lot of three to five pounders, but weed growth is a problem.
PANFISH: Redear and bluegill bites are hot just about everywhere -- with Perris, Diamond Valley, Casitas, Lower Otay, Sutherland, and Puddingstone some of the top picks. Crappie are off most places, with only Cachuma producing any crappie of note.
CATFISH: Good action just about everywhere. Corona Lake and Hesperia Lake both continued to crank out a few bigger fish and have very good action for pan-sized fish. Other top bets include Elsinore, Santa Ana River Lakes, Irvine Lake, Diamond Valley, and Henshaw. Silverwood, Skinner, and Casitas are also good with a lot of cats to eight pounds. Isabella has been fair to good for cats from 1-8 to three pounds. The channel and flathead action is pretty much wide open along the whole lower Colorado River, especially in the backwaters and irrigation ditches. This is the top bet for a quality fish over 20 pounds and big stringers of channels.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Very good catfish bite continues in Twin Cove on chicken liver, and quite a few fish are showing in coves adjacent to the dam. Good striper action at the spillway and the dam with anchovies working best. Anglers have reported good largemouth action while fishing swimbaits on the points. Bluegill are fair all along the marina rip-rap on small plastics, wax worms, red worms, or crickets. Still a few trout showing in the mornings on small lures or floating baits from deep water. The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Trout improving with cooler weather with a pretty good bite on the surface down to 10 feet early and late in the day with the fish moving deeper later. Trollers are using Needlefish and Dick Nite spoons in pink and purple or pink and white. Bait anglers are fishing a slip-bobber rig keeping their baits in the 10 to 15-foot range. Both are getting limits. DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. Catfish are still fair to good, mostly on cut baits fished on sandy bottoms. Smallmouth and largemouth are fair to good in the bays and along the rocky jetties on small jigs and spinners and the best smallmouth reported this week was over three pounds. The crappie and bluegill are also pretty good on mini-jigs tipped with Gulp! Nuggets. Carp slow for anglers and bow fishermen. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago, with slowish action. Quite a few small crappie continue to be caught, along with a few bluegill and the odd bass. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake water level is being lowered for maintenance, but the lake will remain open for fishing while this occurs so long as conditions permit. Still fair to good trout action, but the bite is winding down with the last private plants of the season three weeks ago from both Jess Ranch and Calaveras, and there was a DFG plant two weeks ago. Anglers are still reporting fish in the three to five-pound range but nothing over six this past week. Anglers win a free Green Valley Lakes tee-shirt if they land a trout over six pounds. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
JENKS LAKE REGION: Last DFG trout plant four weeks ago, and the bite is slowing for the rainbows. A few still showing on Power Bait, small jigs, and trout plastics, with the float tube anglers having the best luck. Both the Santa Ana River in the Seven Oaks area and the South Fork were planted by the DFG two weeks ago, but the action is slow to fair with a better bite on the brown trout. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish plants are continuing here each week through October and another load of trophy fish from 12 to 18 pounds went in last week. Lots of full stringers of cats continue to show with lots of two to four-pound fish on cut baits, the marshmallow-meal worm combo, or nightcrawlers. A few wipers are still making an appearance each week but the bite is mostly slow. Trout plants will begin in late October. Lake hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 per angler. There are $2 off coupons available at Bass Pro Shops. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action is mostly slow, but there have been a few nice catches reported. The best bite has been on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs. Trout are planted every Friday with more and bigger fish going in now. The catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers, and the bluegill bite remains pretty fair on meal worms and small jigs. The lake is open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or Jess Ranch Lakes-The Official Site.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks ago. Trout plants will begin in mid-November. Slowish catfish bite on two to three pounders. Pretty good action on small bluegill, crappie to one-pound, and largemouth in the two-pound range. There’s also a good bite on carp with the fish running to five pounds with some bigger. Horseshoe Lake is still temporarily closed due to flood damage. Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks ago. Trout plants will begin in mid-November. Catfish action has been slow with the marshmallow and mealworm combo working best. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks ago. Trout plants will begin in mid-November. Slow to fair action with only a few anglers having success. The marshmallow-meal worm combo, marshmallow and nightcrawler combo, shrimp, or mackerel have been working best for catfish. There is also a fair bite on bluegill with wax worms, meal worms, or nightcrawler pieces. Catfish baits are also now being sold at the park, and small boats (non-inflatable) under 16 feet with electric motors are now allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks ago. Trout plants will begin in mid-November. Catfish bite is fair for one to three-pound fish with the best bite before 9 a.m. each morning. Shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies have been the best baits. Bluegill action is fair on small fish, with small pieces of nightcrawler the best bait. There is a decent carp bite for those targeting them as well. Other species are slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks ago. Trout plants will begin in mid-November. The catfish bite has been slow to fair on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and mackerel. Most of the cats are from 1 1/2 to two pounds. There is also pretty good action for bluegill and largemouth. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: Good action on small bluegill, and the occasional largemouth is also being caught. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The excellent striper bite has continued here with a very nice mix of quality fish over 10 pounds and school-sized fish from two to five pounds. The fish are busting schools of shad on the surface, and catches of 10 fish have been common on a wide variety of swimbaits, surface lures, cranks, and trolled baits. Find the shad, you find the stripers. Also continued very good topwater largemouth action for anglers tossing shad-like surface baits, cranks, and jerk baits of the right size and color. After the topwater slows, the plastic action is still very good. Darn few trout reported in 30 to 60 feet for trollers or anglers drifting nightcrawlers in the west end of the lake off the dam. Catfish action is good on anchovies, mackerel, or shrimp at the attenuator. There is an excellent bluegill bite in Rawson Cove, the marina, east dam, and south corner of the west dam. For general lake, launch, and fishing information, call 800-590-LAKE, the marina at 951-926-7201 or Diamond Valley Marina | Diamond Valley Lake, or Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Last Chance Tackle - Home.
PERRIS: Both redear and bluegill continue to be caught in good numbers with the highest concentration showing near the island and in the marina. Meal worms and wax worms alone or on small jigs are the best baits. There has also been a decent crappie bite reported along Bernasconi Beach and the south end of the dam on jigs. The largemouth action is good with anglers having success at Bernasconi Beach and on structure around the lake on plastics with some surface fish early and late. Fish to four pounds and occasionally bigger. Catfish action fair, while carp and trout are slow. The park is open seven days a week, and hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Very good catfish action. Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and mackerel are all producing fish and the south shore, Ramp No. 2, the inlet, and the dam the top spots. Largemouth action is fair to good with fish starting to move into shallow water near the reed lines. The bluegill bite is good with quality fish showing in the backs of the coves. Stripers are being primarily caught from the dam, the inlet, and ramp No. 2, and this bite has been just fair but is showing signs of improvement. The best bite has been on chicken liver for stripers. Carp action has been fair for those targeting them. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Still a fair to good catfish with a lot of fish from three to eight pounds on shrimp and nightcrawlers. The bluegill bite remains excellent, but most of the fish are small, but a few keeper-size half-pounders are being caught on crickets, wax worms, and meal worms fished under bobbers. The wiper bite has been spotty again this week. Largemouth are fair with fish to three pounds. Crappie are still slow. Carp are not in the shallows for bowfishermen, but they can still be caught on corn or dough baits. Boat rentals are available through the William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental out of Elsinore West Marina. For more information, contact William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or go to Lake Elsinore Boat Rental, Lake Elsinore Bait and Tackle Shop – William’s Bait, Tackle and Boat Rental.
CORONA LAKE: Excellent catfish action for anglers fishing mackerel, shrimp, or nightcrawlers in deep water off J.D.’s Point, at the dam, or from boats at mid-lake. The tilapia action is also still very good. Santiago Palazos Jr. and Sr., both West Covina, had one of the week’s best mixed bags with 18 catfish and 10 tilapia which weighed in at 48 pounds. The big cat was a 4 1/2 pounds and the top tilapia was a two-pounder. D.J. Berry, Lakeroad Village, landed 10 cats for 25 3/4 pounds and the week’s top cat at 7 1/2 pounds. Jose Rivera, Riverside, had 15-cats for 24 pounds on mackerel. Juan Perez, Paramount, landed 10 cats for 19 pounds, while John Nguyen and Maria Crombie, both Riverside, had 10 cats for 16 1/2 pounds. Trout plants will likely begin before the end of September. Catfish are still being planted each week. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
EVANS LAKE: Fair bass action on small plastics and tiny jerk baits along the rocky shorelines early and late in the day with some fish to two pounds. Also a pretty decent bite on small bluegill and warmouth, and there have been reports of small crappie, too. Anglers targeting carp are also seeing a decent bite on dough baits.
RANCHO JURUPA: Light fishing pressure, but there’s a fair catfish bite after the plant two weeks ago. Most of the cats are from one to two pounds with a few bigger. Josie Leal, Bloomington, landed a 3.5-pounder cat on shrimp doused with Hot Sauce. Other species are mostly slow, but a few bluegill and carp continue to show and the odd largemouth is still being landed. There is now a bait and tackle shop at the lake. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-0171.
ANGLER’S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: Catfish remain good on cut baits, and plants are every two weeks with 500 pounds planted each time. There are monthly derbies. A few bass are showing. Bluegill fair. Information: 951-654-7906 or Reflection Lake RV Park, a Hemet California RV Park and Family Campground.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The lake is closed and will remain closed through October for maintenance. Trout plants will begin November 1, or possibly even sooner if the weather cools down. Once the lake reopens it will be open only on weekends Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on all Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: Fishing pressure has been light but anglers have reported a pretty good trout bite. There was a DFG plant two weeks ago. The bluegill bite has been pretty good. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
LAKE FULMORE: No DFG trout plants in over a month. Slow trout action, but a few small bass and bluegill are being caught. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Trout plants likely before the end of the month. In the meantime, continued fair to good catfish action with plants each week. Big fish this past week was a 10 1/2-pound catfish caught by Eric Apellian, Lakewood, fishing shrimp at the Bubble Hole. Tony Giamberdino, Torrance, had five cats that went 15 1/2 pounds and included a four pounder. Mauricio Calvario, Chino Hills, had a 14 1/2-pound, five-fish stringer, while John and Johnathan Seanez and Oscar Ceballos, all Tujunga, had 15 catfish for 30 pounds. The best action this past week has been for anglers fishing the M&M combo or the S&M Combo -- and that stands for shrimp and marshmallow -- not what some of you might have been imagining. Tilapia have been good in the afternoons in the shallows on nightcrawler pieces, and a few sturgeon are being caught each week, mostly on shrimp. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Private boats are no longer allowed at Santa Ana River Lakes due to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. Information: 714-632-7830 or log on at fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
IRVINE LAKE: The catfish bite fair with the best bite early and late in the day. Top spots for catfish are Boat Dock Cove, the west shore, and Santiago Flats near any kind of structure continues. Tim McAroy, Bellflower, caught a 55.4-pound blue catfish on mackerel at the west shore. Phil Hildebrandt, Anaheim, caught a 15-pound catfish on a mackerel and shrimp combo in the flats. Luis Rena, Lyncwood, scored a 12-8 catfish on mackerel fishing the flats. Fair largemouth action. During the day plastics fished in 20 to 35 feet of water has been the best bet, with a pretty good topwater bite in the early morning and right at dusk. Top spots for largemouth are Rocky Point, Red Clay Cliffs, and Trout Island. Pressure on other species is light, but some anglers have reported a good crappie bite on white Atomic Tubes in 20 to 50 feet of water. There is also a decent bite for bluegill and redear. Quite a few hybrid stripers are being caught each week as well, but the fish can be difficult to locate. The lake is closed on Tuesdays. The road to Trout Island is again usable. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or Irvine Lake - Fishing and Camping in Orange County, Southern California.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No report. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or Laguna Niguel Lake.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: The crappie bite was good this past week but the catfish bite went in the tank with only two catfish reported all week. Both the largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair to good with some topwater action early and late in the day and then a decent bite on cranks and plastics later. The key has been to match the color and size of the shad. The trout bite was decent this past week with a few fish showing for deep trollers. Other species mostly slow. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at Santa Barbara County Parks Department Home. The marina is open again with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass bite remains spotty with occasional flurries of decent action. The bulk of the bite is in 20 to 30 feet of water on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs. Morning and evening are when the action has been best, with a quite a few topwater fish early. The catfish bite has continued pretty fair in shallow water on mackerel and nightcrawlers with fish to eight pounds reported. The redear are good on nightcrawlers, also in the shallows. Most hand-sized but some to two pounds. There continues to be a slow trout bite for trollers working eight to 10 colors of leadcore or downriggers with Needlefish in about 60 feet of water near the dam. Most of the trout are two to three pounds and pink-meated. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: Excellent topwater action on stripers, with the fish boiling on shad all over the lake throughout the day. Most of the stripers are smaller but a few bigger ones are showing near the west ramp shoreline with fish in the seven to 14-pound range reported. Largemouth have also been chasing shad throughout the day. Flukes and shad shaped minnows are working very well for largemouth in the back of the coves from Elizabeth Canyon to the marina and near Kong Island. There is also decent action in the lagoon for both largemouth and catfish on nightcrawlers. Information: 661-775-6232 or Castaic Lake | Home.
PIRU: Light fishing pressure but fair to good overall action. There continues to be a decent pick on the crappie, and good bluegill and redear action on fish to a pound or so. The bass are showing on topwater early and then on plastics and swimbaits in the day with some quality fish showing. Tops recently was a nine-pounder. Information: bait shop at 805-521-1500, x208 or Lake Piru Recreation Area.
PYRAMID: The striper action remains fair to good for anglers drifting with anchovies or sardines, and they continue to average from one to two pounds with an occasional bigger fish. Most of the fish are in deep water near the dam, in the main channel and off the island. There have also been some boiling fish in the morning off the island. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action is fair on one to three-pound fish on nightcrawlers and plastics and some topwater. The bluegill are showing in pretty good numbers with quite a few fish to half-pound. Crappie slow. Catfish have improved with a pretty good bite and some fish to 10 pounds or better in the evenings on cut baits. Trout spotty, but some showing for deep trollers. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155, concession at 661-257-2790, or Forest Service at 661-296-9710.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Fair action on largemouth bass on plastic worms and nightcrawlers around structure, with some topwater action early and late in the day. Bluegill action is fair to good on crickets, wax worms and meal worms with morning and evening best. Most are hand-sized and smaller but some bigger fish also showing. Carp are fair on dough baits. Catfish have improved with a fair bite on cut baits, especially in the evenings. No DFG catfish plants since state budget year ended because of lack of funding. Information: East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
SANTA FE DAM: No recent DFG plants. Slow to fair bass and bluegill action. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG No recent DFG plants.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LEGG LAKES: No recent DFG plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: There were 57 anglers checked and they reported catching 988 bass, 46 bluegill, and one crappie. Reservations are available for August by calling Tickemaster at 800-745-3000. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: There were 96 anglers checked and they reported catching just 26 bass and 23 bluegill. Tory Lublan, Escondido, landed a 6.6-pound bass on a plastic. The lake is open to fishing Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with rental boats only available on the weekend. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: There were 63 anglers who landed 120 bass, seven bluegill, six blue cats, and three channels. The lake is open Thursday through Saturday and on Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
LOWER OTAY: There were 155 anglers checked and they reported catching 208 bass to 6.3 pounds, 215 bluegill to 1.3 pounds and 10 cats to 11 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. The lake only has boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
UPPER OTAY: There were 30 anglers checked and they reported catching 35 bass and six bluegill this past week. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is open. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: No report. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
MIRAMAR: There were 39 anglers checked and they reported catching 20 bass, 16 bluegill, and four channel cats. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind, and the launch ramp is closed due to low water levels. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water.
SUTHERLAND: There were 62 anglers checked and they reported catching 78 bass, 50 bluegill, 18 channel cats, and 10 carp. Lake is only open Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: The catfish bite is still fair to good with the best bite near the south shore rock pile. Mackerel and chicken liver have been the top baits. Last catfish plant of the season went over a month ago. Largemouth action has been fair with the best action early in the day when the fish are up chasing baitfish. Crappie are showing in small numbers around reeds and submerged willows. Some bluegill showing in Oakvale Cove and Boat Dock Cove. The lake now closed weekdays and will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays through December 6. Seniors can rent boats for $20 every Tuesday (whenever the lake is open on Tuesdays). Active military will get the same $20 motor boat rentals on the first and third Saturday of every month. Quagga mussel fears still have a private boating ban. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: Catfish action has been fair with most of the fish in the two to four-pound range. Last plant of the season went in over a month ago. The early morning and late evening have been the best times for catfish. Fair bass action with most of the fish reported from 15 to 20 feet of water on plastic worms and jigs. Trout Cove has seen the best action with lots of bass chasing schools of shad on the surface. Bluegill are fair along piers near weed covered areas but the bite has slowed the last few days. Two weeks ago was the end of night fishing and the lake now closes at 7:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. for boaters. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Good catfish action this past week with a few nice catches reported. Good bass action with a very good topwater bite whenever shad are boiling near the rock pile in front of the Log Boom. Few panfish reports came in this week but the bite is still good in Hidden Bay. Night fishing is over for the season. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Fair catfish action with very light fishing pressure this past week. Shadow Cove and the buoy line were the best spots this past week. Some bass are showing in 15 to 20 feet of water as well. There has been some surface activity for bass in the very early morning but crawdads continue to be the best bet for bass. Panfish slow. Night fishing season is now over. The lake will now be open 6 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. Information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: Overall slow fishing with a very tough bite on catfish and bluegill. Just a fair bass bite on crankbaits and jerkbaits in the morning and evening. Carp still fair to good on homemade baits and for the fly anglers targeting them. Most of the action for carp has also been in the morning and evening. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or *Lake Morena, Fishing,Camping, picnics, hiking, Real Estate, Insurance, Lake Morena, Campo.
CUYAMACA: Fair to good trout action. Nightcrawlers and Power Bait are working best and the top spot has been mid-lake and MacGregor Cove. There is also a good crappie bite with a lot of small fish reported. No recent plants. A few bass and catfish reports come in each week and there was even a five-foot long sturgeon landed this past week on nightcrawlers. Private boats are allowed on the lake, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or Lake Cuyamaca Home Page.
HENSHAW: Catfish action fair with some good flurries. Most fish in the one to two-pound range with a few bigger. Crappie are slow to fair to good and they are suspended in deeper water (accessible by boat or on the fishing pier) with most around a 1/2-pound. Bass are fair, but few anglers are targeting them. Good carp action. Henshaw is open to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, dusk the rest of the week. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER
FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region - Lower Colorado River Operations Schedule.
LAKE MEAD: Little change with slow to fair striper action under schools of shad in 40 to 50 feet of water in the main channel and mouths of most of the coves on cut anchovies, sardines, shad-like lures. Most fish under four pounds. The largemouth bass are slow to fair in eight to 25 feet of water on plastics, and the smallmouth have also been fair. Improving catfish action, but still just a fair number of fish showing in the coves on cut baits. Improving panfish action but still slowish.
WILLOW BEACH: The striped bass bite has continued to be good, but with lighter fishing pressure, and those fishing trying to keep the action quiet. The fish are still showing from mile markers 49 to 53 on big, trout-like plugs and swimbaits. Several fish over 20 pounds this past week. The trout action remains pretty good after the weekly plants with the best action on salmon eggs, Power Bait, worms and Super Dupers. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: Still mostly tough fishing. The bass bite has been fair on plastics with some reaction bait and topwater fish. Slow-trolling or drifting with anchovies in 30 to 50 feet of water has been producing some stripers out of Katherine’s Landing off the island. Fair catfish action on cut baits in most coves. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: Overall, very little fishing pressure the past couple of weeks, but the striped bass bite has been pretty decent for the few anglers fishing linesides. The best bite has been from the casinos all the way to Topoc Gorge. The trout bite is slow, but a few continue to show. Smallmouth are fair along rip-rap on small cranks, and a few catfish are showing from the deeper pools. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: There is fair smallmouth action in the main river from Needles south to the I-40 bridge and on down into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks, plastics, and nightcrawlers. Slowish striper action on anchovies in the main river from the upper end of Topoc Gorge to Needles. Catfish probably the best bet on cut baits, but still just fair. Still a few rainbows showing but most are nice quality fish up to four pounds. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: Overall fair to good action, especially in the gorge. Best action on stripers is down near the mouth of the gorge and Havasu with fish running up to five pounds on anchovies and some topwater. Bluegill remain fair in gorge backwaters. Catfish have been good in both the main river and marsh. There continues to be a good bite on smallmouth bass throughout Topoc Gorge with the best action on nightcrawlers, plastic worms, and small crankbaits. Early and late in the day has been best for everything. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil’s Western Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle’s Fun Fishing at 928-768-2667.
HAVASU: There has been a fair to good striper bite from 7 to 10 a.m. most mornings in the main basin of the lake with fish up boiling. The usual array of smaller topwater lures have been the best bet with fish running from one to six pounds with some over 10. The smallmouth bite is improving as the fish school up for fall and start chasing shad. Jigs and grubs are best now in a slow to fair bite, but more and more fish are showing on cranks. Largemouth just fair on Senkos over weed beds with an early morning and evening surface bite on weedless frogs. The evening catfish bite has been decent with some bigger flatheads starting to show on live bluegill. Still decent redear and bluegill fishing, but weed beds are hampering the main lake fishing, best action adjacent to tules up in river. Information: Bass Tackle Master (formerly Angler’s Pro Shop) at 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish and smallmouth bass action. The cats are showing in most of the pools on cut baits, while the smallmouth bass are along the rip rap and best on small cranks and swim baits. Bluegill and redear are good in the backwaters and quiet water in the main river. Few flathead reports.
BLYTHE: Continued good flathead catfish action with a lot of quality fish in the catch, but not the numbers. Most are showing in live goldfish, bluegill, and tilapia fished in deeper holes and fish to 25 pounds have been reported this past week. Channel cats are good in the main canals, backwaters with most running from three to four pounds. The smallmouth bass bite is good in the main river along the rip-rap and in the canals. Most are small, but the action is very good on surface baits, cranks, and small plastics. Largemouth are good in the backwaters and ditches on plastics, cranks, and surface baits. Also good panfish action in both the main river and canals. Stripers slow. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Excellent catfish action with a lot of quality fish over 10 pounds being landed and the top fish recently was a 48 pounder. The big flatheads are showing in the big pools and backwaters, which a just filled with fry this year. Bass improving with cooling water with fish to six pounds showing, mostly on topwater. Surface temp in the lagoon early this week was 76 degrees. Few reports on smallmouth in the main river, and still no crappie reports. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: Fair largemouth bass action in the backwaters and river margins with the best bite early and late in the day, and the catfish -- both flatheads and channels -- are very good with some quality flatheads being caught. Bluegill good, too.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been fair and improving with some flurries of good action on topwater, mostly at backwater entrances. Flatheads are really good on live bluegill and goldfish. Channel cats are good on cut baits in both the main river and backwater lakes. Bluegill also showing in excellent numbers, but most are small. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or Martinez Lake Resort.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action is fair in the whole region with the fish whacking plastics, cranks, and spinnerbaits. There is also a good topwater bite early and late in the day. The catfish bite is also good with some good catches on channels on cut baits and continued decent action on quality flatheads with live goldfish and bluegill.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Very light fishing pressure, but the bite remains good for tilapia. The quality of the fish is better than it was earlier in the year with a lot of 1 1/2 to two-pound class fish. Most of the fishing pressure is at the state park headquarters and the Yacht Club jetty, and the best bite is on nightcrawler pieces. This is the time of year when red tides and cause oxygen-depletion problems here so anglers are always advised to call ahead. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052 or visitor center at 760-393-3810 Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No reports. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No reports.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No reports. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA
For up-to-date road and campground information can call the following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to Lone Pine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call 760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; for the Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeport region call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or Bishop Chamber of Commerce - Bishop, CA - BishopVisitor.com, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: Ken's Sporting Goods - Home (Bridgeport region), The Trout Fly Mammoth Lakes, California, and Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service, Mammoth Lakes. Flyfishing Guide Service for Trout. Fly Fish Owens River from guided driftboats in Bishop. Flyfish Crowley Lake and Bridgeport in guided flats boats named the Trout Magnet. Full service outfit.
WEST WALKER RIVER REGION: The West Walker River is excellent on bait, lures, and flies from Pickle Meadows downstream through the canyon. The Little Walker River very fishable and has been good. Kirman Lake has continued to improve with cool night knocking weeds back. Streamers are getting brookies to 18 inches and cutts to 24 inches. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: The trout action has been very good at the Twin Lakes. Most are pan-sized and the best action in both lakes at the inlets. The East Walker River flows dropped under 200 cfs this week and the bite improved with the best action on midges and caddis on top, and the streamer bite is kicking in. Bridgeport is still fishing excellent, but Buckeye and Robinson channels are pretty weedy. Trollers doing best frm Rainbow Point to the dam. Most fish are one to two pounds with some up to six pounds. Virginia Lakes remain good for fly, lure, and bait anglers. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or Ken's Sporting Goods - Home, Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin) 760-932-7751, Annett’s Mono Village (Upper Twin) 760-932-7071.
JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Good trout action on all four lakes, June, Gull, Silver and Grant, on the usual floating dough baits, inflated nightcrawlers, and the fly-bubble combination, especially at the stream mouths and outlets. Trollers are also getting fish. Silver is getting Alpers trout each Monday. The Lee Vining high country lakes have all been excellent for planted and holdover trout, especially at the inlets and dams. Information: Silver Lake Resort at 760-648-7525 or Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: The Crowley Lake action for fly anglers has been good in the bays with a lot of fish to 22 inches on midges and perch imitations. Convict Lake is good for planted fish. Fair action in Twin Lakes out of Mammoth and plants have been weekly. Rock Creek drainage planted again this week and the action has been very good. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
BISHOP AREA: North Lake, South Lake and Sabrina are all pretty good with lighter crowds this past week. South Lake is still best at stream inlets. There have also been a lot of holdover rainbows in the past week. North Lake very good and receiving DFG plants. Sabrina has been good with a lot of limits showing all around the lake on a wide variety of baits and lures, with the inlets perhaps the best spots. Lake Sabrina Boat Landing plans a stocking of Alpers in the next couple of weeks. All the forks of the Bishop Creek have been good for stream anglers, and the weir has cranked out some super fish this past week. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is good for planted rainbows on floating baits and small lures, especially at the inlet. Lower Owens just fair to good with some very good dry fly action. Information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver’s 760-872- 8361, Brock’s 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Generally fair to good action after DFG plants last week on all the creeks. No plants this week. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.

WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Fishing has been slow overall with light fishing pressure. Catfish probably are the best bet with a pretty fair bite on frozen shad, clams, and Sonny’s dip bait with lots of fish from two pounds and up, with most anglers fishing at night. The largemouth bass bite has slowed but a few fish are still showing on Senkos, brush hogs, and deep-diving cranks. Dropping water level has the fish suspended and tough. The crappie action is slow again. The bite that started to pick up last week has lulled again. Trout action is fair at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Continued very good action in the upper river and low flows. The upper stretch to the Johnsondale Bridge was again stocked this week and the best bite has been on crickets, salmon eggs and spinners. Fly anglers are also seeing decent morning and evening dry fly action. In the lower river, flows are dropping and very fishable and anglers are finding pretty decent bass action in the Richbar and Hobo areas and the trout are also fair. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Still mostly slow. The moss and vegetation is a nightmare, too. Most of the stripers are in the three- to six-pound range and showing on blood worms, almost exclusively, for anglers who are walking the bank and drifting baits with the flow. Few on lures. The same tactic is working for a few catfish. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Very good bite on bluegill with wax worms or crickets. Most of the bluegill are hand-sized. The carp are good on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait. Bass very slow with only a little action early and late in the day.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Still a good bluegill bite, and the carp action has been good on Powder Bait. Fair catfish bite on nightcrawlers and shad. Bass and crappie spotty, but some bass showing early in the day.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is good on wax worms, meal worms, and crickets, and the carp action is good on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics early in the day, but this bite is mostly slow.
MING LAKE: The carp bite is very good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has also been a very good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is slow with a few on plastics or topwater early in the day.
BRITE LAKE: No reports.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Continued good catfish action on frozen shad, dip baits, or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from two to five pounds and showing from the small lake. A fair bite on largemouth bass this past week with a few fish on topwater and live bait. The bluegill action has been fair to good on wax worms. Carp good for those targeting them. Not much on stripers or crappie. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on red worms, meal worms, or wax worms, and a few bass are showing on plastics or jerk baits early in the day. Pretty good carp action on dough baits.
SUCCESS LAKE: Pretty good bass action Senkos and plastics, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Water level coming up. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good with a lot of fish on plastics and some on topwater and reaction baits. The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off in the shallows. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Few reports from here this past week, but the striped bass bite appears to be continuing at a pretty good clip for both trollers and anglers working boils with surface poppers. Lots of six to 12 pounds and some fish over 20 pounds. The catfish action is fair, and there has been a pretty fair bass bite, with the some quality smallmouth showing. Carp are wide open if you target them. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites have been fair. Some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The white bass action is slow to fair on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. The crappie bite has slowed down with spotty action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The catfish bite is improving, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: The bass bite has been pretty good morning and evening, with some topwater action and a good bite on plastics. Gerard Buckley, Atascadero, landed a 9-3 largemouth at the dam on Creature Bait. The bluegill and redear bite is excellent on hand-sized fish with some bigger. Catfish bites have been pretty fair and fish to 16 pounds were reported this past week, most on cut baits. Crappie are very slow. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Fair bass action and a good bluegill bite in the mornings, especially off the F Dock on meal worms and red worms. The bass have been best on swim baits and cranks with the best action at the bridge. The crappie bite has slowed, and some catfish are showing. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's web site at California Department of Fish & Game Fisheries Fish Planting Schedule by Regions.
LOS ANGELES: Jackson Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO: Santa Ana River, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
INYO: Lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws.
MONO: upper Owens River from Benton Crossing to Crowley Lake.
KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville.
TULARE: Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge.
FRESNO: Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam.
MADERA: Corrine Lake.
TUOLUMNE: Lyons Canal, Moccasin Creek, Powerhouse Stream.
END
CATFISH PLANTS
The following lakes, listed by county, will be stocked this week with one-pound catfish by private hatcheries under contract with the Department of Fish and Game.
No catfish plans this week.